[Harp-L] Re: funk style blues

[Mike Fugazzi <mikefugazzi@xxxxxxxxx>]

Exceptional post! Funk is all about rhythms.

On Jan 2, 12:31 am, "John F. Potts" <h...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> Jay,
>
> A couple of ideas/suggestions:
>
> Don't necessarily restrict yourself to playing blues over the funk  
> grooves.  It's primarily a rhythmic thing, so cop the groove and go  
> with the flow.  Short repeating phrases sometimes work. Keep it  
> simple and throw in little variations for flavor, but focus on  
> keeping the groove. You actually don't need to play anything  
> elaborate if the groove is solid. Punctuate rather than elaborate.  
> Less is more. In music, repetition is not a fault, but an aesthetic  
> device.  This concept applies in spades when you're playing funk.
>
> Keyboard players playing synths with seventies funk bands can provide  
> you with a wealth of ideas for more sophisticated soloing over funk  
> grooves.  Bernie Worrell is one name that comes to mind (Parliament)--
> arguably the funkiest keyboard player on the planet.  Also, you can  
> listen to the keyboard playing on "You Dropped a Bomb on Me" by The  
> Gap Band for this style (I don't know who the keyboard player is).  A  
> lot of this type of stuff I've just heard on the radio and i can't  
> readily name the bands or musicians, but this style of synth playing  
> translates pretty well to harp if you stay open minded and GO WITH  
> THE GROOVE.  it's a rhythmic thing. It's not so much about what notes  
> you play it's where you put them and when you play them. Melody isn't  
> very important and DON'T FORCE FEED PRECONCEIVED LICKS if they don't  
> fit the groove.  You can actually be pretty uninhibited about what  
> you play so long as you can cop the groove, play with economy and  
> stay with the repetitive rhythmic nature of the groove.
>
> I don't know if any of this makes sense.  I can do it better than i  
> can explain it.  But i hope it gives you some ideas.
>
> FWIW.
>
> JP
>
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